Systems integration ‐ coping with legacy systems

Today systems integration has become a strategic issue of major concern. The aim is to facilitate sharing and dissemination of information across functional boundaries within the manufacturing enterprise. However, apart from the complexities involved in integrating closely related mission‐critical “islands of computerization”, which are predominantly domain specific, many organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain, modify and augment them in this rapidly changing world. Without the provision for a higher degree of evolution and migration capability, these systems are in constant danger of being obsolete. Reports on the methodology conceived and the software toolset which has been developed by the author to facilitate the adaptability of integrated manufacturing systems in response to changing needs.